After travelling the globe, Shock The World landed in Auckland with a launch event for Casio G-Shock’s collaborations with Huffer, Misery and Qubic, followed by a party featuring David Dallas, Computers Want Me Dead and Just Blaze…
The event ‘Shock The World’ began in 2008 to celebrate Casio G-Shock’s 25th anniversary with a world tour, holding street parties and performances in over 30 cities including New York, Berlin and London.
After travelling the globe, Shock The World landed in Auckland on 21st October 2010 with a launch event for Casio G-Shock’s collaborations with Huffer, Misery and Qubic, followed by a party featuring David Dallas, Computers Want Me Dead and Just Blaze.
A highlight for Thread was listening to the presentation by Casio G-Shock’s inventor Kikuo Ibe, probably the most charming and humorous Japanese inventor ever!
With the aid of a manga-style story board, he talked the crowd of media, retailers and guests through the history of his world-famous invention; a watch made virtually unbreakable due to its five layers floating inside a rubber casing.
Below: Kikuo Ibe
Black Box and The Department Store’s Dan Gosling took to the stage to say how pleased they are to be retailing the limited edition timepieces designed by fashion label Huffer, NZ artist Misery, and brand Qubic.
Below: MC Jay Reeve of MTV interviews Dan Gosling.
The three designers spoke from pre-recordings on a giant screen, and their G-Shock watches were unveiled for the first time in glass exhibition cases.
Below: G-Shock inventor Kikuo Ibe with Misery, the NZ artist and designer wearing her G-Shock.
Jay Reeve interviews David Dallas.
The event has spared no expense in creating a good atmosphere; from the white plastic tunnel you entered through, to the massive G-Shock clockface suspended over the band stage. Guests snacked on Wagamama noodle boxes which tied in well with the Japanese theme, and tried their hand at The Claw, a fairground attraction game to win a free G-Shock. We saw a lucky guy walk away with one first pop, but sadly couldn’t track down the guy with the metal tokens so we could play.
We did however have a go in ‘The Amazing Travelling Photobooth’, a booth with instant photo strips in colour or black and white to take home. Cool party concept.
Then the party began.
Electro-pop duo ‘Computers Want Me Dead’ did Pet Shop Boys covers and synth-heavy dance tracks and brought nerdy-coolness to the stage.
David Dallas, direct from his success at the NZ Music Awards, took to the mic accompanied by Just Blaze on the decks with Dallas’ original tracks.
1am magazine’s Glenn and Amanda Hunt (far right) with friends at the launch party.
Misery loves company. Tanya Thompson with friends at the launch of her G-Shock colab.
NZ’s Next Top Model contestant Holly, right.
Megan and Rebecca with a G-Shock mascot.
The last word must go to the father of G-Shock, Kikuo Ibe, "Never give up!" Without his single-minded dedication to solve a problem, this ground-breaking phenomenon would never have come about.
Below: Never give up!
By Megan Robinson, 21 October 2010.
Photos Rebecca Zwitser
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